# Is "Shrovetide in Old New Orleans" by Ishmael Reed a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Shrovetide in Old New Orleans by Ishmael Reed (Doubleday, 1978) is identified by: Doubleday, Garden City, 1978, first printing with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page and no later-printing statement (ISBN 0-385-05688-5). True first is the 1978 Doubleday hardcover; first collection of Reed's essays.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Doubleday, Garden City, 1978, first printing with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page and no later-printing statement (ISBN 0-385-05688-5)
- Reed's first collection of essays, running about 292 pages; the priced dust jacket flap should be present
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ishmael Reed |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 1978 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Doubleday, Garden City, 1978, first printing with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page and no later-printing statement (ISBN… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Doubleday, Garden City, 1978, first printing with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page and no later-printing statement (ISBN 0-385-05688-5). Reed's first collection of essays, running about 292 pages; the priced dust jacket flap should be present.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1978 Doubleday hardcover; first collection of Reed's essays.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable; Doubleday firsts of this period are identified by the stated "First Edition" rather than a number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Shrovetide in Old New Orleans* by Ishmael Reed a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/shrovetide-in-old-new-orleans
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.